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The protest movement won't be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

It also might feature a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

While rallies opposing the administration continue in American cities, participants are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, while police observe.

Combining comedy and political action – a strategy researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a hallmark of US demonstrations in this period, used by various groups.

One particular emblem has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It began when a video of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to demonstrations across the country.

"There is much at play with that humble frog costume," says a professor, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's challenging to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by extremist movements during a political race.

As the meme gained popularity online, it was used to signal certain emotions. Later, it was utilized to endorse a political figure, even one notable meme shared by the candidate personally, showing the frog with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

But Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

This character debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he said his drawing was inspired by his time with companions.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with sharing his art to the nascent social web, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control icons," states the professor. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. A transformation occurred recently, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment came just days after a decision to send military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

The situation was tense and a officer sprayed pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "something milder". But the incident went viral.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, known for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that embrace the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which argued the deployment was illegal.

While a judge decided that month that the president had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she wrote. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The order was stopped legally just a month later, and troops withdrew from the area.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume was now a powerful symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume appeared nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Visual Story

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to a cause without explicitly stating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The purpose of this approach is multi-faceted, he explains.

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